I want to plant a few trees at our cottage this fall but not sure what would work best in our area. Burnt river Ontario. I love umbrella trees but not sure if that is s good choice for that area?
Hi and thanks for your question.
The umbrella tree I am familiar with, Schefflera actinophylla, is a house plant even in southern Ontario. When I googled umbrella tree, I also found Umbrella Catalpa, Catalpa bignonioides, which is hardy in zones 5b-9. I judge Burnt River to be in zone 4, so the umbrella catalpa will likely not survive there.
There are so many factors to take into consideration when choosing a tree that it is hard for me to choose something for you. Appearance is one thing, hardiness another, soil type and sun/shade a third, also coniferous/deciduous, fruit/flowers/4 season interest etc. If you check out the website below, you can zero in to where you are in Burnt River on the map of southeast Ontario and then you will get pictures below the map of the native trees that are hardy there. You won’t see Burnt River on the map but you will find Four Mile Lake. The tree species listed are native to Ontario.
https://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/tree-atlas/ontario-southeast/
It has a huge list of trees (native and non-native) categorized in different ways and giving you mature height and hardiness zone and sun requirements. Since you are in zone 4, you can choose trees from that zone and colder zones, which are numbers less than 4. Numbers above 4 require warmer conditions than you have. If you buy your trees in a nursery close to Burnt River, it is likely, but not guaranteed, that they will have only plants hardy for the area. Check the tags for hardiness zone information before buying.
You could also try emailing the Haliburton Master Gardeners, also in zone 4, to see if they have specific recommendations: halmastergardener@gmail.com